Machine for casting metal pigs or bars



E. H. ACTON MACHINE FOR CASTING METAL PIGS OR BARS Oct. 30, 1923. 1,472,623

Filed Nov. 6, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' by 5M Aiiorvzeys Oct. 30, 1923.

I E. H. ACTON MACHINE FOR CASTING METAL PIGS OR BARS Filed Nov. 6, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet In venivr' I 6mm 3 A r/5w by @Afiarneys Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT -EF'FICE.

EDWARD H. ACTON, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ALO'MINUM COM- PANY OF AMERICA, 01 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

MACHINE non CASTING METAL PIGS on Baas.

Application filed November 6, 1920. Serial no. 422,138.

7, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. ACTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Nia ara and State of New, York, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Casting Metal Pigs or Bars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 1 This invention relates to machines for casting metal pigs or bars in open ,molds carried by a suitable conveyer past a spout from which the molten metal is discharged. Its object is to provide means for preventing theformation of fins on the edges of the casting. To this and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter described.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view, somewhat diagrammatic in character.

Fig. 2 is an end view, from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one of the distributors or fin-preventers, and

Fig. 4 is a central cross-section of the same.

Fig. 5' is a cross-section of one of the pigmolds, filled with metal, showing the fins often formed on the edge of the casting when my invention is not used. i

Fig. 6 is a detail view. on a largerscale, illustrating the effect of the distributors or fin-preventers.

-The apparatus illustrated comprises a series of elongated ppen molds 10 secured to a pair of conveyer chains 11 by which they are carried past the discharge spout 12. The molds travel upwardly, and at the upper end of the conveyer the pigs are ejectedfrom the molds and may be received by a conveyer indicated diagrammatically at 13. mold enters and leaves the stream of molten metal the metal strikes the relatively cool walls of the mold and is congealed, producing an objectionable fin at one' or both edges of the pig, as indicated, for example, at 14', Fig. 5. These fins are objectionable, as they not only impair the appearance of the castings but also are easily broken or chipped, having an edge which is liable to injure the hands. The-present invention is designed to overcome this de:

As a

-- feet, and for this purpose it involves the use of thin metal deflectors by which the stream of metal is deflected or guided into.

the mold without coming in contact with the edges, thereby preventin the chilling of the metal and consequent y preventing the formation of the fins.

The apparatus illustrated comprises a frame 15, preferabl triangular in form, ar-

ranged over the filling end of the mold-conveyer, as indicated in Fig. 1.. At the cor-. ners of the frame are sprockets 16,.17, 18,

over which travel the conveyer chains. 19. Fixed on the shaft 20 of the sprockets 17 is a star wheel 21, andfixed on each mold wardly between its. 'endsand upwardly be-.

tween its side edges, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, making it-substantially saddle-shaped. These deflectors are secured to.

the chains in any suitable manner, as by means of bolts (not shown) extending throu the eyes 24. The deflectors are spaced equidistantly and are arranged over the rear lips of the molds or the narrow spaces between succession molds, as clearly indicated in Fig. 6.

Remembering that the deflectors advance with the molds, it will be seen that as each a mold comes under and leaves the stream of molten metal there is interposed between the metal and the edge of the mold one'of the deflectors. Striking the deflector the stream is shot' into the .mold' without falling upon the edge of the mold. As the mold advances, its forward edge and the deflector above the same are carried from under the metal, the deflector at this stage still guiding the metal into the mold. As the rear edge of the mold approaches the stream the next deflector comes into'operation and deflects the metal, and continues to do so until it is carried so far out of the stream that all of the metal is deflected into the next succeeding mold. The metal is therefore never allowed to fall upon the edges of the molds. Preferably the sprocket 16 is slightly farther from the path of the molds than is sprocket 17, so that the path of the deflectors diverges from the path of the molds, and it is also desirable to have the discharge spout 12 close to the sprocket 16 so that the deflectors turn, to go around the sprocket as indicated in Fig. 6, while the metal is still hot. Then the thin web of metal that sometimes extends from the deflector to the metal in the mold is pulled backward from means, as for example by a motor 25 and gearing 26 indicated in Fig. 1. The deflector conveyer may also be driven continuously if desired. The melting furnace from which the moltenialuminum' or other metal is supplied to the spout 12 is indicated diagrammatically at 27.

It is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to the construction herein specifically illustrated and described but can be embodied in other forms without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims. V

I claim:

1. In a casting machine, in combination,

, a delivery spout for molten metal, a series of molds traveling ast the spout to receive molten metal there rom, and a series of re-- flectors traveling with the molds between the same and the spout in a path diverging from the path of the molds, the deflectors being I spaced from the molds and overhanging the adjacent edges of-successive molds, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a casting machine, in comb nation, a

delivery spout for molten metal, a series of molds traveling past the spout, and a series of deflectors traveling with the molds between the same and the spout, each comprising a transverse member spaced from the molds and overhanging the adjacent front and rear edges of successive molds, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a castin machine, in combination, a delivery spout or molten metal, a series of molds traveling past the spout, and a series of deflectors traveling with the molds between the same and the spout, each comprising a transverse member spaced from the molds and curved or bowed upwardly between its front and rear edges, said deflectors overhanging the adjacent front and rear edges of successive molds, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a casting machine, in combination, a delivery spout-formolten metal, a series of molds traveling past the spout, and a series of deflectors traveling with the molds between the same and the spout in a path diverging from the path of the molds, each deflector comprising a transverse member spaced fromthe molds and curved or bowed downwardly between its ends and overhanging the adjacent front and rear edges of successive molds, forthe purpose set forth.

5. In a casting machine, in combination, a delivery spout for molten metal, a series of molds traveling past the spout, and a series of deflectors traveling with the molds between the same and the spout, each comprising a transverse sheet metal member spaced from the molds and curved or bowed downwardly between its ends and upwardly between its front and rear edges and overhanging the adjacent front and rear edges of successive molds, for the purpose set forth.

- 6. In a casting machine, in combination, a travelling series of transverse open pi molds, a delivery spout for molten meta past which the'molds travel, and a series of transversely extending upwardly bowed deflectors travelling in unison with the molds between the same and the delivery spout and positioned above and spaced from but overhanging the adjacent edges of the successive molds as they pass the spout, to deflect the molten metal from the mold edges. 7. In a casting machine, in combmation, a travelling series of transverse open pig molds, a spout for molten metal'past which the molds travel, and a series of transverse saddle-shaped deflectors travelling in unison with the molds between the same and the spout, above and spaced from but overhanging the front and rear-edgesof adjacent molds, to deflect the molten metal from said edges as the molds and deflectors pass the spout. Y

In testimony whereof I 'aflix my s1gnature.

EDWARD H. ACTON. 

